Dodgers Rumors: Impending roster crunch has LA exploring trades for multiple players

The Dodgers made Roki Sasaki's signing official on Jan. 22, filling their 40-man roster to its absolute capacity again. However, more signings are coming down the pike, which means LA will need to figure out how to make room.

The last player to be sacrificed in a Dodgers roster crunch was former No. 1 prospect Diego Cartaya, who was designated for assignment to make room for Teoscar Hernández and then subsequently traded to the Twins. With Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates' deals both pending physicals and Clayton Kershaw still in need of a spot whenever the inevitable re-signing happens, three currently rostered players will be need to be subtracted. And that's only if the Dodgers don't re-sign Kiké Hernández, as well.

There are a few names that look like prime candidates for a swift DFA — Michael Grove, Ben Casparius, and Justin Wrobleski among them. However, it looks like the Dodgers might be taking a different route.

On Jan. 22, Bob Nightengale reported that LA was shopping "some of their surplus" in order to clear space for at least Scott and Yates, including Ryan Brasier.

Dodgers reportedly shopping Ryan Brasier, more "surplus" to clear roster space

If the Dodgers do end up giving up two veterans instead of pushing out prospects, it would be an interesting change of pace for them as a team that clearly isn't interested in building a core out of homegrown players. Grove, Casparius, and Wrobleski are all recent top prospects, with Casparius and Wrobleski ranking in the top 30 as recently as last year. Grove landed at No. 24 in 2023.

Casparius didn't get much of a tryout last season — he pitched just 8 1/3 innings — but Grove has been struggling with the Dodgers for three seasons, and his 5.48 career ERA doesn't leave much hope that he'll ever measure up to expectations in LA. Wrobleski pitched 36 1/3 innings last year for a 5.70 ERA, and isn't likely to ever break into the rotation, which will remain crowded until at least 2027. Casparius and Wrobleski could both still be viable trade options if the Dodgers aren't willing to risk losing them to another team on waivers.

Brasier's trade value is still higher than all three of these prospects, so maybe the Dodgers are just interested in maximizing their potential returns. Still, it would be surprising if LA ended up trading a veteran like Brasier and not making Grove an easy sacrifice when he certainly doesn't deserve a roster spot.